Haus und Garten Tour

PreTour offers firsthand look at featured sites in German Village

The German Village Society will take a big step back in time June 29, when it throws a Roaring '20s-era party at the German Village Meeting Haus.

As part of this year's PreTour, the warm up to the annual Haus und Garten Tour, the Party on the Platz will have a timely Great Gatsby theme, complete with speakeasy-style cocktails.

Shiloh Todorov, director of the German Village Society, said there are roughly 100 tickets left to the soiree, which will be held from 8:30 p.m. to midnight at the Meeting Haus, 588 S. Third St.

The event features hors d'oeuvres from Barcelona, G. Michael's, Kittie's Cakes and Pistacia Vera. Prohibition-era cocktails will be provided by Curio.

Tickets, $125 for GVS members and $150 for non-members, are available at germanvillagetour.com. Tickets include admission to a tour of all residences and gardens from 5 to 7 p.m. that evening.

There are also a few tickets remaining for PreTour dinner parties, held in the homes of local residents.

For the budget-minded young professional, the society is offering $75 tickets to those who want to attend the PreTour and a cocktail party from 7 to 8 p.m. on Willow Street, next door to the Meeting Haus.

Light appetizers will be provided by the Refectory and Giant Eagle Market District.

The idea is to attract those age 35 and younger and give them an opportunity to meet, mingle and get acquainted with the German Village Society and its members.

"This is one of several new ways we're trying to engage the young people who we know live down here, but haven't found their way to the society," Todorov said.

"We want them to come and experience what's a really fun evening. So, we're trying to put it in reach."

The 54th annual Haus und Garten Tour, titled Reel Life: German Village, will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 30 in the village.

It will feature 10 residences, three gardens, the Columbus Maennerchor's Dutch House and the High Line Car House, the former Hoster Brewing Co. site that will be home of Two Caterers.

Tickets, $20 in advance, are available at central Ohio Giant Eagle locations and online at germanvillagetour.com.